The Effects of Birth Order and Gender on Perceived Educational Financial Support

Danielle Kupferman

This study examined the amount of perceived financial support that will be distributed among the youngest, middle, and oldest in a family. The perceived financial support was determined by the scenario questions following the scenario in the survey. The results supported the hypothesis that the first born child would receive more perceived financial support. Our findings partially supported the dilution hypothesis (Blake, 1981), in that the oldest child was given more support than the middle and youngest child. However, because we used scenarios and different measures our findings differed from previous literature, which can lead to future areas of research.